Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Net revenues:
Admissions	$ 340,183	$ 323,529	$ 747,610	$ 715,842
Food, merchandise and other	198,206	198,726	440,681	444,737
Total revenues	538,389	522,255	1,188,291	1,160,579
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise and other revenues	40,422	43,450	93,224	99,109
Operating expenses	202,625	191,399	570,559	560,145
Selling, general and administrative	47,426	58,807	149,581	150,571
Termination of advisory agreement			50,072
Depreciation and amortization	42,322	44,737	124,154	122,085
Total costs and expenses	332,795	338,393	987,590	931,910
Operating income	205,594	183,862	200,701	228,669
Other income, net	13	237	193	2,110
Interest expense	21,018	29,545	72,550	86,263
Loss on early extinguishment of debt and write-off of discounts and deferred financing costs			32,429
Income before income taxes	184,589	154,554	95,915	144,516
Provision for income taxes	64,390	62,297	31,930	58,273
Net income	120,199	92,257	63,985	86,243
Other comprehensive income:
Unrealized (loss) gain on derivatives, net of tax	(1,127)	(1,172)	1,453	(1,172)
Comprehensive income	$ 119,072	$ 91,085	$ 65,438	$ 85,071
Earnings per share:
Net income per share, basic	$ 1.34	$ 1.12	$ 0.74	$ 1.05
Net income per share, diluted	$ 1.33	$ 1.11	$ 0.73	$ 1.04
Weighted average commons shares outstanding:
Basic, shares	89,610	82,461	86,867	82,480
Diluted, shares	90,206	83,374	87,531	83,301
Cash dividends declared per share:
Cash dividends declared per share	$ 0.20		$ 0.40	$ 6.07